Rio de Janeiro,
the marvelous city, dramatically set between rainforest clad cliffs and the sea is always
awash with joyful existence. Locals love Rio calling it "cidade maravilhosa" and
referring to themselves as Cariocas for being part of what is undoubtedly the world's most
beautiful city setting. One of the world's densest cities, it never sleeps and it is easy
to get around day or night. Cariocas are friendly folks who always have time for the
sensual pleasures of good living and the rhythm of samba.

Two of the world's most famous beaches,
Ipanema and Copacabana, anchor Rio's 45 miles of white sand beaches. All visitors from the
international jet set to the budget traveler eventually must experience the urban beach
and cafe culture of Rio which sets the soulful pace for Rio's many vigorous personalities
and their lusty love of life. Expect the unexpected in this nearly five hundred year old
City (founded 1502) but be spontaneous if you wish to experience the festival of song,
color and joy around you. Primeval splendor encourages a youthful approach to city living
where colors are richer, people are beautiful and tomorrow's just another day. Rio de Janeiro considers itself the art
and cultural center of the continent . Away from the beaches and intense night life you
will find much art by contemporary artists in galleries and museums, excellent shopping
particularly for jewelry, plentiful hotels in all price ranges and a huge variety of
restaurants. Hotel tours will take you to the breathtaking views at the top of the 396
meter Pão de Acúcar, or Sugarloaf, as well as the Tijuca rainforest (only 15 minutes
away), yet adventurous visitors can find plentiful urban cultural adventures in this
special city with 7 million native hosts. Wander, wonder, feel the rhythms of joy
which must be renewed with the gods once a year. The River of January City lives for its
February eruption of exultation in the present known as Carnaval.

Rio by
world66.com & Rio by
wikitravel.org
Often updated by users and the same owner since '06 World66 has
more personal experiences and reviews while wikitravel is more collaborative
from traveler viewpoint. Creative Commons means content is free to use but
is not exactly the same as the original "neutral" Rio by
en.wikipedia.org

Rio-PhotoGuidemaintained by Carnaval.com. We're always adding and
only the other great visual spectacle city of San Francisco has more images.
Planning trips further afield use
Roughguides Guide to Rio & Brazil in association with TravelNow &
us

Rio De Janeiro
by worldchoice hotels
our long-time main partner keeps looking more like their parent travelocity.
We can sometimes find best air fare and since 2007 they've had best airport
car rental engine. Good family section. Good list of popular day &
overnight bus trips

OFFICIAL:Welcome to Rio by
Rio.rj.gov.br/Riotur
Riotur,
(55 21) 541-7522 the most helpful official agency for obtaining visitor information in English
(multilingual) call the
main number (open MtoF 9to6) , and in Copacabana at Av.
Princesa Isabel 18 (Mon­Sat 9am­6pm). Also get their help at the Rodoviária,
the international airport and the Sugar Loaf.: TURISMO,
For the state of Rio at Rua da Assembl ia 10 7th flr EMBRATUR,
at Rua Mariz e Barros 13, in Praça da Bandeira

AIRPORTS: There
are two for Rio de JaneiroSDU, RJ (AeroportoSantos Dumont), is mostly shuttle flights to Sao Paulo
from the ciy centre and GIG, RJ
(Aeroporto
Internacional Galeao), 14 Km from downtown,
where you can go to anywhere in Latin America....When looking for help, know the
difference between the official tourist information center run by RioTur or Embratur
and the others who pretend to be official. You can ask to see a list if you're not pleased
with the suggested hotel or taxi.
GIG Airport by carnaval.com in our
aforum||by Explore-rio.comRio
de Janeiro Transportation by world executive

For Reservations by Phone/Fax: Rio's Area Code
55-21
For Calls from Inside Brazil: Rio's Area Code 021
Getting the room with an ocean view at a reasonable price can be tough as is
avoiding the many rooms on lightwells. There's a huge and growing number of
apartment rental firms who will show you fotos of your view as well as your
kitchen. The average one bedroom price is only US$65 too. Its a little
trickier dealing with unknown small timers in the big city though. We send
friends to the well-located family firm at
Copacabana Holidays whose honesty and reliability lets us better enjoy
our time in town.

HostelBookerswe liked these the
depth, usability and value of these guys so much we made them handy to
find in the menu bar on top.Hostel World
in association Carnaval.com Great resource for the independent budget
traveler with excellent descriptions of what to expect. Growing number of
hotels and hostels with private rooms. Nearly 30 budget options in Rio
plus great ideas for where to stay in 28 other Brazil Cities.

Venere
Hotels This Italy based outfit has the most consumer friendly method
of collecting without any surprise gouges as well. It's Rio / Brazil
selection is thin but a good name to remember

Hotels
Brazil
Find nearly
60 Rio options
beginning at US $50 per night and then the most (49) and still growing
number of Brazil Places to Stay. They
are a net rate reseller who collects the room rate and thus
changes must also go through them. Also they have a bad habit of telling
you the hotel you want is not available despite what booking engine told
you.Choose the city in the State of
Rio where you want to go The List: Rio Hotels & FlatsA list of 200 options plusWhere to Stay in Rio: byipanema.comIpanema.com now includes travel reservations among its services

"its small tables
and candlelight perfect for a romantic evening--or a table on the
large deck overlooking the park. The cuisine here is modern
Brazilian--fresh ingredients in interesting combinations. Definitely
worth trying are the penne with fresh salmon and pepper, or the
fusilli with a tomato basil sauce served with chicken breast in
rosemary butter"

The
BUSES are plentiful but you'll need reliable local advice on which to take to
your destination. Exact change is not required. Board the bus at the back where you pay
the fare collector...There are two SUBWAY lines which are quite good but are outside the
hotel/beach area.... RENTING-A-CAR is possible but remember Brazilians compete with the
same aggressive maneuvering you find in Italy and New York City. TIP: Be sure to get a card with your hotel address and phone
before venturing out into unfamiliar territory and don't be shy about getting transit
advise from your innkeeper.If your itinerary is near a
subway/metro stop consider "buy integrated bus/metrô tickets, useful to
make the link between the metrô station at Botafogo and Ipanema or Leblon... the #M21
going via the Jóquei Clube, the #M22 via Copacabana. "

Getting Around by lonely planet for travel.yahoo
"Rio's excellent subway system is limited to points north of Botafogo. The
two air-conditioned lines are cleaner, faster and cheaper than buses. The
main line from Botafogo to Saens Pena has 15 stops. To get to the train
station, Estação Dom Pedro II, take the metrô to Central station."
Rio's subway is expanding

Novorio.com.br use
our handy translator pop-up top leftthe city's central bus depot, it offers
information on destinations, prices, and schedules for all the bus lines
that serve Rio.

The proverbial tourist guide book advice
is worth repeating, besides
the readily available tourist brochures, you should consult Friday's Caderno B, a separate section
of the Jornal do Brasil for entertainment listings or the Friday Globo in
the Rio Show section.

Nightlife & Arts by Fodors for yahoo.com"For current listings, pick up the bilingual Rio Guia,
published by Riotur, the city's tourist board; Este Mês no Rio/This
Month in Rio is also a good source of information.

"One of
the hottests spots in Rio's nightlife, Méli Mélo offers a
dance floor and three ambiances with different food options:

Lists of Links

Yahoo's:Brazil:Rio
de Janeiro since '97 has not got beyond the initial 350 links.
This seems about right since only impanena.com has grown since we started
following the web for RioTerra-Lycos
is a yahoo like portal while Cadê
is now the Brazil links directory of another major Latin portal Star
media. Aonde
is the 4th major option for links in Portuguese.

For
Police dial 1-9-0; Fire, accident or ambulance, 193 ...For time dial 130;
for temperature and weather 132....(Portuguese only of course)..... The
Rio Health Collective offers a 24-hour physician's referral service (in English) at
325-9300, ext. 44. The U.S. Consulate is 292-7117....Most important is your
attitude....Do not brush your teeth with tap water....Think light when you go to the
beach. Rio for Business visitorsby Patrick
McCurry. Some pithy
quick advice. Taxi drivers do not expect substantial tips, whilst hotel staff are
likely to expect at least one BRC"by expats.com.br.
More for the visitor who becomes a resident, but insightful and important.

" I
extricated myself only to land in the middle of the pushing crowd again.
At this point, I decided I'd had a good New Year's and the Spidey Sense
was tingling...
Living in Expatria atspaceanddeath.com/brazil/
from the

From rock climbing to 5-day whitewater discover the greener side of Rio which makes it so stunning
TOURS in Rio ||Recommended ToursHow to spend two months and still not see and do everything you want
to. RIO Travel Agencies Web guide to the many large multi lingual
operators in the big city who all will gladly help you with your
selectionRioHiking.com.br
Denise Werneck, a Carioca, runs these hiking tours Tijuca Forest,
Corcovado, Sugarloaf, and Pedra da Gavea. www.tour-rio.com10 suggested tours by a tour guideTOP

Weather

Expect Tropical Weather and summer is Dec-Mar: Jan, 69-84°F
(21-29°C); Feb-March, 72-85°F (22-29°C); April, 69-80°F
(21-27°C); May- Oct, 63-77°F (17-25°C); Nov, 68-79°F
(20-26°C); Dec, 71-82°F (22-28°C).
When to Go by lonely planet for travel.yahoo
"Rio has a classical tropical climate, so expect some rain. Summer (December
to March) is hot with top temperatures ranging from 25°C (77°F) to 40°C
(104°F).... more showers in summer than at other times, but they rarely last
long. Winter ...has plenty of good beach days"Rio
by myforecast.com/

Find
the never ending symphony of
movement along Avenida Atlantica. Many Cariocas bring
just a small pouch or bag to the beach - no shirt, no shoes, nothing else. No matter how
small your bikini, it will always be bigger than what the Brazilians are wearing.Beaches
|| South
Zone || Guanabara
Bay || Barra
Get to know the difference between Flamengo,
Botafogo,
Praia, Vermelha, Copacabana , Ipanema, Leblon, Sao Conrado, Barra de Tijuca, Prainha and
Praia de Grumari Beaches"Since the 1960s, Ipanema has
developed a reputation as a fashion centre second to none in Latin America."

by riohiking.com.br
the whole
shore string from Flamengo to Barra da Tijuca show varying degrees of
pollution .. Only Prainha and Grumari, the preserved non-built
beaches south of Recreio are always listed as really unspoiled.

The beaches stretch from the Costa
do Sol, north of Rio, to the Costa
Verde, south of the capital. Inland, amid the exuberance of the
forests is the mountain
region with towns such as Teresópolis, Nova Friburgo and Petrópolis,
one of Brazil's most important historical towns where the Brazilian
Imperial family came to take their ease during the nineteenth century.
Also inland is the Itatiaia
region where the country's first national park was created in 1937 and the
location of the highest point of the state, Pico das Agulhas Negras,
rising 2,787 metres high.

"Cove
of Kings" or Angra dos Reis Where to go if you want
to get away from it all. Angra dos Rio the largest boat harbor in South
America features thousands of beaches on hundred of islands and is a popular diving center
as well. Offshore, Ilha Grande beckons with 102 beaches, no cars, one
phone, and little electricity. Nearby is Paraty, Angra's cultural soul.ParatiThe beautifully maintained colonial
City of Parati is located 125 miles south of Rio (4 hours drive on BR
101) Most popular tourist spot on the magnificant stretch of coastline between
Rio and São Paulo.
Costa Verde 's hundred islands are celebrated as remarkably
intimate spots to visit nature.

Buziosonline.com.br
|| Português The popular, famous resort community of
17 beaches set on a peninsula about 2.25 hours drive (3 hours by bus) north
from Rio. Rich, romantic, relaxing are often used to describe. Búzios contains
3 commercial centres; Manguinos at the
isthmus is the main one, Armação
where many of Búzio's best restaurants are concentrated is midway along the peninsula. At
the tip is Ossos, with a pretty
harbour. There are also two nearby beach towns, Cabo Frio
and Arraia do Cabo.

From the trendy Avenida Visconde de Piraja of Impenema to the
Hippie Fair you can find
everything in Rio somewhere. The jewel capital of the
world and a leader in the fashion world also offers convenient shopping in giant malls
like RioSul, Barra Shopping, Fashion Mall and Gavea Shopping

Hippie Fairthe place to go gift shopping
before heading back home. Bargaining is the norm, as at all of Rio's outdoor
markets Sunday 8 am to sunset. Praca General Osorio (Ipanema)—an easy walk
from Ipanema hotels and about 10 minutes by taxi (R$5) from Copacabana.

Rio Neighborhhoods by frommers"Rio is normally divided into three zones: North (Zona
Norte), Center (Centro), and South (Zona Sul).
Largest and least-interesting from a visitor's perspective, the Zona
Norte stretches from a few blocks north of Avenida Presidente
Vargas all the way to the city limits. With only a few bright
exceptions--the Maracanã stadium, the Quinte de Boa Vista gardens, and
Galeão (Tom Jobim) airport--the region is a dull swath of port, industrial
suburb, and favela. After dark, it is definitely not the sort of place one
should wander unaccompanied."

Museu
de Arte Moderna mamrio.com.brcontemporary art, film archives and library. In Portuguese and
English.Contemporary Art Museum
The best reason to venture to Niteroi on the other side of
the bay
Museums in RioThis is a big page so best results achieved by going direct to
page above rather than using the below jump-tos.

Petrópolis by brazzil.com inc TERESÓPOLIS, NOVA
FRIBURGO & THE ITATIAIA REGION
Escape to the cool mountain climate only
60km from Rio. Built by German immigrants with a European flavor, they set aside June to
celebrate Festa do Colono Alemão (Festival of German Oompah)
Most tourists do Museu Imperial. Frequent bus trips take 1.5 hoursA great hike the State of Rio's
highest spot an hour's drive from the City at Parque Nacional Serra dos OrgaosA trip to three towns all
within a couple hours drive Niterói A Vista The other big City in the state
of Rio, just the other side of the dramatic bridge across the Bay of Guanabara

Live Music in Rio:
Besides imported rock, rap & pop there are 6 types of music to
discover. The first type is SAMBA – sometimes called "samba de raiz"
(root samba) or "roda de samba"(samba round) – that has a
slightly slower beat than the second
faster rhythm ofCarnival
samba
which you can easily find on the streets during the Carnival months of
January and February. Root samba
features guitars, a lot of percussion and a tambourine. The third is CHORINHO
– old time samba, with a faster beat, less percussion and more strings,
featuring a small guitar named "cavaquinho". It is instrumental
music to listen to, with wonderful string solos, and generally no dancing.
The fourth is FORRÓ – music from the northeast featuring a bass
drum called "zabumba", triangle and accordion, famous for the
very tight couples dances associated with it. The fifth is GAFIEIRA
– at the remaining 2 ballroom dancing halls located downtown couples of
all ages have a lot of fun dancing to live music, mostly samba with a
little touch of fox or bolero. There is still MPB - Brazilian Popular
Music – which could be described as modern, sophisticated samba with
influences from other rhythms and above all, very good taste and high
musical quality generally performed in theaters or nightclubs where it may
be difficult to dance. There is also a lot of foreign music played in
discos and and at rock concerts but this you can find anywhere now.

In 2001 the Dean of Brazilian English Travel writers, Rio based Bill
Hinchenburger launched BrazilMax.com
Also the top publisher in this field Brazzil.com
began a monthly e-mail newsletter. From Toronto check for the latest
edition of the elegant culture and business magazine brazilianist.com
Brazil Culture & Arts for what's new
featured writers, stories & expanded listingsMaria
BrazilSheila Thomson takes her task
of spreading Brazilian culture on the web seriously as her will
attest to. People from Rio proudly call
themselves Cariocas. Here's an insightful description to what it means by fellow Carioca
Doris Kosminsky from"a special space reserved for artistic
emotion,"